Cyclone Gita

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita is a strong tropical cyclone that was the most intense to impact Tonga
since reliable records began. The second named storm and first major tropical cyclone of the 2017–
18 South Pacific cyclone season, Gita originated from a monsoon trough that was active in the South
Pacific in early February 2018. First classified as a tropical disturbance on February 3, the nascent
system meandered near Vanuatu for several days with little development. After acquiring a steady
east trajectory near Fiji, it organized into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on February 9 near Samoa.
Arcing south in a clockwise turn, the system rapidly intensified and became a severe tropical cyclone
on February 10 near Niue.

Throughout its path in the South Pacific, Cyclone Gita affected multiple island nations and territories.
Tonga was hardest-hit with severe damage occurring on the islands of Tongatapu and ʻEua; two
fatalities and forty-one injuries occurred in the kingdom. At least 171 homes were destroyed and
more than 1,100 suffered damage. Violent winds destroyed homes and left the two islands largely
without power. Torrential rains and damaging winds caused widespread disruptions in Samoa and
American Samoa, prompting emergency declarations in both. Outlying islands in the Fijian Lau
Islands were significantly affected, particularly Ono-i-Lau and Vatoa. Wallis and Futuna, Niue, and
Vanuatu were also affected but impacts in these areas were minor.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Gita